NSW Government Secures Art, Science and Technology Festival For Wollongong

More than $1.8 million is expected to be injected into the local visitor economy in 2020 with the NSW Government securing a new event for the region which will explore and celebrate art, technology, science and society.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward said overnight visitors were expected to gather across multiple locations in Wollongong from 27th February to 1st March 2020 to attend the inaugural 3 Festival, which features a four-day program inspired by the highly successful annual Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria.

“This event format that has been highly successful in Austria since 1979, and to develop our unique version of it in Australia for the very first time next year, right here in beautiful Wollongong, is a major coup,” Mr Ward said.

“Visitors will be able to experience the event across a few days, while taking some time to explore everything our beautiful region has to offer – from our beautiful beaches, great food and wine, to our adventure activities and stunning national parks. This promises to be great for local businesses, accommodation providers and tourism attractions.”

The NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall MP said that securing this event, which is expected to attract more than 2,700 overnight visitors is another example of the NSW Government’s commitment to building a world-class calendar of culturally important events for the State.

“The NSW Government is steadfast when it comes to supporting regional events because they help to turbocharge local economies, generate jobs and drive investment in local communities. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Wollongong next year and beyond for this exciting Australian exclusive event,” Mr Marshall said.

The event is supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, as well as Wollongong City Council and the University of Wollongong.

The 3 Festival – in collaboration with Ars Electronica - will feature exhibitions built from Australian and international talent and a selection of Ars Electronica content. The festival will include a series of symposiums across a range of contemporary topics and issues across arts, science, technology, society and entrepreneurship. Additionally, a contemporary music program will explore experimentation in composition, instrumentation and cross-media integration.

For more information and to register for updates, expressions of interest in participation and early bird tickets, go to www.3festival.com.